Theresa May wins cabinet backing for Brexit deal

The embattled PM repeated the qualities of her draft withdrawal agreement with the European Union tonight.

A United Kingdom government explanatory note on the deal said this meant that "there will be an option to avoid the backstop, even in the event that our future relationship is not complete and a temporary bridge is required".

The Prime Minister said the draft deal "takes back control" of money, law and borders, ensures the United Kingdom leaves customs union, the Commons Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy and maintains "frictionless trade" across borders.

The quirky largely Protestant Northern Ireland party May's minority government relies on to stay in office has said it will vote against the draft Brexit agreement when it formally comes before Parliament next month.

High-energy, and seen as one of the most effective members of cabinet in bringing forward new policies, Gove has become a surprise ally to May and so far backed her Brexit strategy.

She added, "We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated".

"The Brexit talks are about acting in the national interest and that means making what I believe are the right choices, not the easy choices", she said.

These decisions were not taken lightly - but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest.

"This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalize the deal in the days ahead", she added.

The resignations came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on November 25, at which the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations is due to be finalised and formalised.

According to local media reports, the EU accepted the idea of whole-U.K. customs union with the bloc in a major concession to please U.K.'s demands to protect its territorial integrity.

The Herald argues that the best outcome from Australia's point of view is still for Britain to remain in the EU.

There would be "ambitious customs arrangements" that "build on" the arrangements in the withdrawal agreement.

The draft accord envisages a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to safeguard an open Irish border after the post-Brexit transition runs its course if a new trade deal is not in place.

The prime minister will struggle to win support for her deal in Parliament.

Influential Brexit-supporting Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg was reported to be preparing a letter expressing no confidence in May.

The talks were stuck for months on how to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and European Union member Ireland, if and until London strikes a new trade deal with Brussels.

In the Commons on Thursday, May faced criticism from the opposition Labour Party - where left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn lambasted the "half-baked" deal.

Sputnik: If what you are saying is true and I am sure like yourself I was glued to my twitter feed last night to pick up the various comments and statements that were coming out of London in Downing Street last night.

Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC's political editor, described a senior Tory as saying that "Brexiteer anger" was "so high that seems likely there will be a call for no confidence vote tomorrow".

At least 48 letters from Conservative MPs are required to trigger a vote of no-confidence in the party leader, but a majority of the party's 315 lawmakers would have to vote against May in order for her to be ousted.

Appearing before the House of Commons earlier Wednesday, May confronted the anger of both those who want a cleaner break with Brussels and those who think Brexit is a disaster.

Mr Bone told talkRADIO in October that although many Tory MPs were "unhappy" with Brexit negotiations, they wouldn't want a change in leader.

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